Australian Open: British underdog Jodie Berg vows to take it to Coco Gauff | Tennis News

British underdog Jodie Berg has vowed to “take it” to the “best player in the world” after she was given center billing in the night session at Rod Laver Arena during her match against third seed Coco Gauff at the Australian Open.

Berg was emotional at her end He won in the first round over Leolia Jangan on Monday After considering retirement late last season she is struggling to make a comeback after wrist and ankle injuries.

The 25-year-old already has experience on some of the sport’s biggest stages following her heavy loss to Daria Kasatkina on Center Court at Wimbledon in 2023 before a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open.

“I’ve never hit Rod Laver before,” Berg said. Sky Sports Before her second-round match against the former US Open player, Scheduled at 8 a.m UK time on Wednesday.

“I have played with Coco before and she is arguably the best player in the world at the moment, so it will be a very difficult match.

“I’m an underdog and I take that position in the match and I take the attitude that I’m going to take it into it. I’m going to see what I can do. I’m going to try to make it as uncomfortable as possible.”

“I’m very excited. Everyone loves an underdog.”

In February, Berg needed surgery on a torn tendon in her wrist – the fourth operation of her career – and suffered another blow in April as she prepared to return to competition after tearing an ankle ligament in a training session with Katie Poulter. Which forced her to return to the field. She has to miss another 10 weeks.

“He’s not easy to deal with,” Berg said. “It was a really tough year. I didn’t know how much fight I had to give to this sport.

“But it’s a crazy sport and it can change very, very quickly. That’s what keeps me going, really, is that I know it can change quickly.”

Draper: The crowd will bring out the best in me

Jack Draper He is expected to get the best out of a hostile crowd when he faces home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, with the match scheduled to take place in the night session at John Cain Arena.

Draper He passed his first round match against Argentine Mariano Navone in five setswhere rust appeared after preparations were disrupted by a thigh injury that left him struggling to walk.

“This will definitely bring out the best in me,” he added. “I think it’s going to be a really good atmosphere.

“Whether the crowd is with me or against me, I remember what it was like to play future tournaments without anyone watching. This is what I play for, playing in front of a lot of people and having fun.”

Kokkinakis played one of the most memorable matches at the Australian Open in recent times against Andy Murray two years ago, with the Scot somehow working his way back from two sets down before winning a nearly six-hour match at 4.05am.

Draper also had a close contest against the 28-year-old, despite being unmatched in Australia, but will not seek advice from his compatriot, as Murray focuses on his new job as Novak Djokovic’s coach.

“I think Andy is too focused on Novak but I watched that game,” Draper said. “I know Tanasi will give everything he can here in Melbourne. He always plays great tennis so it will be a really tough match.

“We always have a battle, so I’m fully prepared for that. I’m going to have to improve my game and I think this is a great opportunity to do that.”

Question marks also surround the physical condition of Kokkinakis, who withdrew from the tournament held on his home soil in Adelaide last week and then suffered a leg injury during his first round match in Melbourne.

While Murray appears blocked, Draper is able to strike up a conversation with his old friend Jacob Fearnleywho handled one of the toughest tasks at Melbourne Park with confidence on his debut, beating Nick Kyrgios.

Draper turned professional as a teenager while Fearnley chose to attend university in the United States, but he has wasted no time making his mark since leaving Texas last spring and could achieve new heights when he faces unseeded Frenchman Arthur Cazeau on Wednesday.

“Fernley will have a great career.”

Sky Sports “Fernley,” said Jonathan Overend Well done with the Nick Kyrgios circusEven when Kyrgios was performing brilliantly, he succeeded in executing trick shots and achieving a simple comeback in the third set.

“The more and more I see Fernley, the more I believe he will have an excellent career as a top 100 player.

“How far will he go? It’s too early to say. He’s very new to his professional career but we have this thing in Britain, where if you have a player in the top 100, you expect him to be in the top 20 or in the top 10. .

“We seem to be good at producing world-class players like Andy Murray and Emma Raducano, but maybe not so great at producing the best players who mix them with the elite every year at the top of the game.

“I see in Fernley all the qualities a person needs to do that. He will have a great career. He will be in the top 100 players in the world for a number of years.”

Harriet Dartthe fourth British player to take part on Wednesday, only found out she had been given a place in the draw as a lucky loser two hours before her match against Jana Fett, which she finally won more than three hours later despite cramping and cramping. Calf problem.

The 28-year-old hopes to recover in time to face 18th seed Donna Vekic.

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